Blog Post #1
(The Independent)
The article’s slant is told in its cover image. The swollen, mutilated face of youth that dares the
reader to justify this result. These injuries occurred when multiple teens hurled an “acidic
substance” at the depicted Tega Agberhiere (Conor). The incident took place last April in
Waterford. In January of this year the case concluded with all perpetrating teens were not to be
charged with a crime. Instead of being given a criminal offense the offenders got a warning.
The warnings were given as a part of the “juvenile liaison programme — which seeks to deal with
youth offenders in a manner that ensures they do not get a criminal record” (Conor). The article
characterizes the liaison program as a way youth criminals can circumnavigate criminal processing.
From our lectures we know that these programs are meant to keep young offenders from permanent social
outcast. The bulk of this article is comprised of quotes from Tega Agberhiere’s mother. Here she echoes
the writer’s sentiment by characterizing the verdict as “a slap on the wrist” and she wants to receive proper
justice (Conor). The correct result in her parental eyes would be a trial. To her, a criminal proceeding with a
jury and judge is a more proper assessment for the crime. Tege's mother seems to put more faith in laymen
Irish citizens rather than in the juvenile liaison programme to enact justice. Many of the same ideological
elements appear in a newspaper article for The Independent.
reader to justify this result. These injuries occurred when multiple teens hurled an “acidic
substance” at the depicted Tega Agberhiere (Conor). The incident took place last April in
Waterford. In January of this year the case concluded with all perpetrating teens were not to be
charged with a crime. Instead of being given a criminal offense the offenders got a warning.
The warnings were given as a part of the “juvenile liaison programme — which seeks to deal with
youth offenders in a manner that ensures they do not get a criminal record” (Conor). The article
characterizes the liaison program as a way youth criminals can circumnavigate criminal processing.
From our lectures we know that these programs are meant to keep young offenders from permanent social
outcast. The bulk of this article is comprised of quotes from Tega Agberhiere’s mother. Here she echoes
the writer’s sentiment by characterizing the verdict as “a slap on the wrist” and she wants to receive proper
justice (Conor). The correct result in her parental eyes would be a trial. To her, a criminal proceeding with a
jury and judge is a more proper assessment for the crime. Tege's mother seems to put more faith in laymen
Irish citizens rather than in the juvenile liaison programme to enact justice. Many of the same ideological
elements appear in a newspaper article for The Independent.
Written on the same day as The Irish Times article, this article for The Independent has a telling
characterization of the perpetrators. He wrote that the attack was carried out by “a total of four teenagers
[who] were subsequently arrested by Waterford Gardai over the incident—one was aged 19, two were aged
18 and one was a juvenile” (Riegal). Here the author draws a cut and dry distinction for juveniles. The age of
eighteen is the threshold that separates adolescents and adults. Even though all four of the attackers
committed this act simultaneously, they are different in the eyes of the author. Like the Irish Times article,
the author’s outrage revolves around the light government response rather than the action by the four
teenagers. The subtext of this outlook shows the expectations for adolescent boys. The press is not surprised
that youth are committing crimes as they have bought into the perception of adolescents as mentally
underdeveloped and crime prone. Coverage of the Waterford acid incident goes to show that adolescents are
still expected to be naturally devious and dangerous.
characterization of the perpetrators. He wrote that the attack was carried out by “a total of four teenagers
[who] were subsequently arrested by Waterford Gardai over the incident—one was aged 19, two were aged
18 and one was a juvenile” (Riegal). Here the author draws a cut and dry distinction for juveniles. The age of
eighteen is the threshold that separates adolescents and adults. Even though all four of the attackers
committed this act simultaneously, they are different in the eyes of the author. Like the Irish Times article,
the author’s outrage revolves around the light government response rather than the action by the four
teenagers. The subtext of this outlook shows the expectations for adolescent boys. The press is not surprised
that youth are committing crimes as they have bought into the perception of adolescents as mentally
underdeveloped and crime prone. Coverage of the Waterford acid incident goes to show that adolescents are
still expected to be naturally devious and dangerous.
Bibliography:
Lilly, Conor. “Decision Not to Charge Teens over Waterford Acid Attack Upheld.” Irish
Times, 30 Jan. 2020.
Riegal, Ralph. “Culprits of Acid Attack on Waterford Teens Will Only Get Juvenile
Cautions, DPP Informs Victims.” Independent, 30 Jan. 2020.
Comments
Post a Comment